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The Winners Of 2017’s Sony World Photography Contest

The Sony World Photography Awards bring us the most awe-inspiring photos from around the globe every year, and 2017's freshly announced winners are sure to leave you speechless.

The competition hands awards out to 4 different categories; Professional (body of work), open (single images), youth (photographers aged 12-19), and student focus. National Awards are also presented to one photo from each participating country. Depending on the category, winners take home cash prizes, Sony digital imaging equipment, and the opportunity the have their photo featured in an exhibition. Sony's 2017 exhibition for winning photos is set to take place in London.

See if your favourites from the shortlist ended up winning below, and vote for the ones that deserved it most. You can also check out our posts about the winners from 2013, 2014, and the 2015 shortlist.

Camilo Diaz, Colombia National Award

Submerged field. Everyday aims towards a collective goal. The Colombian national team is immersed in white, grey, and black, fighting together for the ultimate position. With accredited prestige, an invitation was sent to participate in the European Junior Championship, as a guest team. Ana Maria and her team are constantly fighting, pushing their lungs to the limit and transforming their everyday lack of resources to an idea of opportunity. The volume of water suggests a calm while the surface gives constant chaos. It is in this scenario that the South American team is named youth world champion winners in Norway.

Peter Svoboda, Slovakia National Award

Light from above. The picture "Light from above" was taken in September 2016 in Santa Maddalena, Dolomiten, Italy. Beautiful light and humidity stood behind the nice play of light and shadows that morning. I was waiting as the small church was illuminated by the very first rays of Sun.

Andreas Hemb, Sweden National Award

A herd of cape Buffaloes drink at a watering hole at Zimanga Private Games Reserve, South Africa. Taken on tripod with first exposure lit for buffaloes and without changing camera position second exposure without light and focused on the stars instead of the buffaloes.

Shabir Mian, Pakistan National Award

Deveni Nishantha Manjula, Sri Lanka National Award

Sleeping beauty. During a game drive in Lake Nakuru national park in September 2016 we noticed this lioness on a tree. With the reputation of tree climbing lions in Lake Nakuru we were not surprised to see this lioness on the tree. With the light levels depleting quickly due to adverse weather conditions I made this picture to show the environment of the subject.

Ivan Miladinov, Bulgaria National Award

Ha! Found the portal where the evil king from another dimension is summoning his minions from to rule our world! We will not let them succeed! Transformation! *whooshing sounds and sparkling lights* Hiyaaaaa!!!

Josselin Cornou, France National Award

Tabular iceberg. In March 2016, I headed to the Antarctic Peninsula, as part of an expedition with explorer Robert Swan. On our way to the 66th parallel south, our boat was navigating in silence through 30 meter (100 feet) high tabular icebergs that were once part of the Larsen Ice Shelf. Those mesmerizing structures were displaying subzero icy corridors, forming a highly photogenic gargantuan maze. The scene was magnificent, but also incredibly scary. I took my camera, I had to show the world the impact that global warming has had. Equipped with a 70-200mm, I started to play with the magnificent landscape around me, trying to display the geometric magnificence of those structures. After envisioning the shot, I had to wait the right moment, and had only a few seconds to get it right.

Mustafa Jindi, Uae National Award

Transportation. I took this photo in Abu Dhabi, at one of past September morning days, a painting on the wall grabbed my attention, due to it represents UAE past culture. It made me bring my son, dress him with the Local traditional outfit that he loves the most, and made him play around with his tiny car under; the paint, which reflects the great progress and innovation, that UAE witnessed in saving its own precious culture background.

Tim Cornbill, Uk National Award

Concrete Circle. Having just arrived in Berlin on a bright summer's day, my wife and I decided to take a morning walk along the River Spree. We soon came across a large concrete building, and I was immediately struck by its geometry and scale. Across the river, I positioned myself for a single point perspective and waited for the right moment to capture it. A couple came into the viewfinder and I noticed the cyclist out of the corner of my eye. I waited for them to move into the frame and hit the shutter to try and balance the composition.

Ly Min, Cambodia National Award

Very film-like photo. No bright colors of Cambodia. Reminds me of the documentary film Les Pépites. It is about how children working on a garbage dump of Phnom-Penh were helped by a man and his wife who created a school for them.

Seung Jong Lee, Republic Of Korea National Award

Lise Johansson, Denmark National Award

The series Hearth explores what it means to feel at home. The inspiration for the work came from the personal experience of Johansson returning to Denmark after many years of living abroad and realising he had lost the warm sense of belonging I once he had. This feeling of loss can be felt when viewing the photograph.